Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Future Dukies Shine in No-Defense Situations

It looks like Duke recruits Mason Plumlee and Ryan Kelly did themselves proud at last night's McDonald's High School All-American festivities.

Kelly, a 6'10" phenom from Raleigh who ESPN describes as having a "European-style game," somehow won the three-point shooting contest. Internet video confirms that he can also dunk, especially against inferior high school talent. However, this little blurb from ESPN can't help but give me pause:

"What a difference a year makes. Once a scrawny, face up four-man who refused to mix it up in the paint..."

I didn't bother reading the rest of that sentence. As Duke fans, we're a little too familiar with interior weakness resurfacing against ACC competition. Whenever I close my eyes, I can still see Shavlik Randolph being forced outside the lane by someone with real, visible biceps, and settling for an awkward half-hook near the baseline.

In the slam-dunk contest, Mason (younger bro of current Duke freshman Miles) Plumlee came in second. I have no idea which dunks he attempted, but it's a fair bet he would have won with this one from his senior season:

The Kelly three-point win is an especially good omen. Check out the list of past Duke-bound winners of the contest: Chris Collins, Trajan Langdon, Nate James, Shane Battier, Chris Duhon, and Redick. Not a bad list, although Nate James sticks out like a sore thumb.